Bono joins chorus for refugees as U2 kick off European leg of tour

Bono has drawn attention to the plight of refugees as rock giants U2 kicked off the European leg of their world tour.

The frontman and activist, who addressed Turin's packed Pala Alpitour in Italian on a number of occasions, said he did not have the answers to the refugee crisis but added that we "must work together" to find the solution.

The image of a young Syrian boy washed ashore in Turkey earlier this week sparked outrage and calls for governments throughout Europe to do more to help the tens of thousands of refugees.

Bono made reference to the shocking incident by changing the lyrics in Pride (In the Name of Love) to: "One boy washed up on an empty beach."

The image of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi lying face down in the sand made headlines around the world, becoming a focal point in the deepening refugee crisis.

In a set that included more than two dozen of the band's songs and at one point featured a screen showing footage of refugees, Bono said: "There is a lot of heartache in the world, but there is so much joy in here this evening.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's incredible.

"Watching the news, ordinary people - all of us - seem capable of such great evil and such great love.

"I don't know the answer to the refugee crisis in Europe and Africa but I know we must work together to find an answer to the refugee crisis in Europe and Africa."

He added: "As Nelson Mandela said 'It always seems impossible until it is done'."

Bono asked the crowd: "What do you want? A Europe with its heart and borders closed to mercy? Or a Europe with its heart open?"

Aylan's father Abdullah Kurdi has said he hopes the photograph of his son will bring attention to the plight of refugees.

"I just hope this photo of my son will change everything," he told reporters.

During the concert Bono also made reference to a future where no babies are born with HIV.

"If you tell your leaders this is important to you it will be important to them," he said.

The set included tracks such as Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky and Beautiful Day. U2 will play a string of nights at The O2 in London before finishing the Innocence and Experience tour in Paris on November 15.

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